Letter against historic preservation ignores reality

The restrictive covenants referenced by the previous author were struck down by the Supreme Court in 1948 — nearly 80 years ago.

To suggest that today’s preservation advocates are reviving those practices ignores who we actually are. Glazenwood is home to families of Japanese, Mexican, Indian, Turkish, Chinese, Korean and European descent, alongside immigrants and gay residents.

These neighbors are not being excluded — they are leading this effort, drawn here specifically by the neighborhood’s architectural character and sense of community.

More than 80% of Glazenwood households have signed the petition for historic designation — an overwhelming mandate from a genuinely diverse neighborhood. The proposal rests on objective, color-blind architectural standards rooted in the city’s own General Plan.

Real solutions to San Mateo’s housing challenges belong near transit corridors and commercial districts — not in the small, diverse cohesive historic pockets that give our city its soul.

We can grow smart and diverse without erasing what makes San Mateo worth living in.

Cathy Costello

San Mateo